Bucket List

[Hans Tucker]

Question. Do you have a bucket List? What astronomy related tasks are on your list?

[LewisM]

Astronomy bucket list - own as many different Takahashis as possible, that do NOT have mirrors - CHECK!

Hmmm, new bucket list required. Still no mirrors involved :P

I guess the best astronomical bucket list entry for me would be getting into space, even if that bucket list was kicked off by a human reentry :P :)

[Ric]

Eventually build an Obs, that's been on the cards for a while now.

Too many things keep getting in the way.

[el_draco]

I just want to empty the friggin bucket into my obs. Gear is all there, obs is 2/3 built... :sadeyes:

[Wavytone]

Astronomical bucket list - own the best maksutov I can lift, and find the right mount.

Got the scope, now to find the right mount for it.

[sil]

first cripple into space, elon musk can have my earthly possessions for a one way ticket to mars, fed up with this planet and its people.

[Hans Tucker]

I would love to visit Paranal Observatory in Chile and to view the Aurora Borealis from Norway.

I mentioned to work colleagues that I wanted to tour Europe and USA and visit the various observatories and was told what a waste of a trip it would be.

[Hans Tucker]

So what is the scope?

[doppler]

For me a really big newt with a tracking mount to suit, you can't have too much aperture. 16" great, 20" better, 30" now I'm just dreaming lol.

[Wavytone]

Hans,

It's a 9" Santel, which is an Intes MK91, hand corrected. OTA is 15kg and built like a tank. Santel ceased production some years ago so the only way to score one is secondhand.

Needs a new finder - the Russian one is junk, and could use a better focusser as the Intes Crawford is too lightweight.

But the optics are perfect.

[Atmos]

I've slightly drooled over an intel M815 :P

[xelasnave]

I fortunately did everything on my list although I did want to be the oldest man to sail around the world, but thats not going to happen, but I dont feel sad, somewhat relieved that I cant go thru with it....And that was just an ego trip being realistic.

One thing left get auto guiding which I may get done soon. Maybe. I will be happy if it falls into place and works but I notice my patience is not what it once was.... But I fixed my reticule today and the mounts working near perfect for my demands so if I cant make auto guiding happen no worries.

I would not mind getting a triplet a 100 mm or a 80 mm and seeing the esprit 150 mm during my visit to Bintel has got me thinking but I am too tight to spend that sort of money on a toy even if a long time dead... But will be happy to get a $500 8 inch reflector when they come in.
Alex

[LewisM]

The AMD version goes faster :P :)

[Atmos]

Autocorrect for the win!
Intes Micro 815

Specific enough to outwit autocorrect!

[Hans Tucker]

Sweet scope. I remember reading good reviews even toyed with the idea of buying this scope a few years back but then decided on the Mewlon 250S. At the moment I am going through a refractor phase. Currently have an APOMAX 130, FSQ-106, TEC160FL and FS-78 Would you say I have plethora of refractors?

[drylander]

My bucket list involves not kicking it too soon :rofl:
Pete

[multiweb]

+1 Keep the list, stay away from the bucket. :lol:

[Wavytone]

Yup... I'd suggest they're all too similar. A bit like the way women collect a clutch of similar handbags, or five sets of shoes all the same... never understood why they do that.

I can understand a 78 and 160, but why keep the other two as well ?

[Hans Tucker]

I plan on selling the FS-78, when I get around to it, and keep the FSQ-106 for wide field imaging. The APOMAx 130 f/12 is a collectors piece, I read a review on cloudy nights and I wanted one. The TEC160FL was an opportunistic buy, the seller was getting out of the hobby and offered me the scope. I also wanted to see if there was the reported up scale from 5 inch to 6 inch

[casstony]

After 6 months of trying I finally got one off the bucket list; we got a shield fitted to the nearest LED streetlight. It was too bright and shining on our bedroom window, but the backyard should also be darker :thumbsup:

[Visionary]

Hans, at this precise moment I am taking action to "shape my bucket". Building and shaping the form, and the contents of the bucket, it is more fun and more satisfying than I ever thought possible.
The most important lesson I have taken from this bucket process? Reinvention, reinvent your equipment, reinvent your goals. I don't think this process will ever end now, nor do I want it to end.
David

[Allan_L]

Bucket List completed.
Most of it in 2012 (just in case the Mayans were right :P
January 2012 Retired
May to September 2012 MotorHome Trip around coastal Australia with missus.
October November 2012 MotorHome trip to FNQ to witness total Solar Eclipse.

Everything else is just icing on the cake now - and loving it. ;)

[Shano592]

My only astronomy-related bucket list item would be to get out of the atmosphere at least once.

Sadly, I think it may be beyond my time here.

Maybe I can stow away on the rocket to Mars. How long can I hold my breath???